Medical Language: Chapter 8 - Orthopedics and the Skeletal System

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical structures, physiology, pathologies, diagnostic techniques, and treatments from Medical Language, 6th Edition, Chapter 8 (Orthopedics / Skeletal System).

Orthopedics

The medical specialty that studies the anatomy and physiology of the skeletal and muscular systems and uses diagnostic tests, medical and surgical procedures, and drugs to treat them.

Axial Skeleton

The central bony structure around which other parts move; it consists of the bones of the head, neck, chest, and spine.

Appendicular Skeleton

The bones of the limbs; it consists of the shoulder, arm, hip, and leg bones.

Cranium

The domelike structure at the top of the head that contains the cranial cavity and the brain, composed of eight cranial bones joined at immovable suture joints.

Fontanel

A fibrous connective tissue membrane area in an infant's skull, including the large anterior fontanel between the frontal bones and the posterior fontanel between the parietal bones.

Ossicles

A chain of three tiny bones (the malleus, incus, and stapes) located in each middle ear that are active in the process of hearing.

Hyoid Bone

A U-shaped bone in the neck that does not connect directly to any other bone; it is suspended from the styloid processes by ligaments and serves as an attachment for neck and mouth muscles.

Sternum

The vertical bone located in the center of the anterior rib cage that consists of three parts: the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid process.

True Ribs

Rib pairs $1$ through $7$, which attach directly to the sternum via costal cartilage.

False Ribs

Rib pairs $8$ through $10$, which attach indirectly to the sternum rather than directly.

Floating Ribs

Rib pairs $11$ and $12$, which have no anterior attachment to the sternum.

Atlas (C1)

The first cervical vertebra, which articulates with the occipital bone to allow up-and-down movement of the head.

Axis (C2)

The second cervical vertebra, which fits into the atlas to form a pivot joint allowing side-to-side rotation of the head.

Glenoid Fossa

The shallow depression on the scapula where the head of the humerus articulates to form the shoulder joint.

Acromion

The bony extension of the scapula that connects anteriorly with the clavicle.

Acetabulum

The deep, cup-shaped hip socket formed by the ilium, ischium, and pubis that accommodates the head of the femur.

Hallux

The great toe, which contains two phalanges instead of three.

Periosteum

A thick, fibrous membrane that covers the outer surface of a bone.

Diaphysis

The straight shaft of a long bone composed of cortical compact bone surrounding the medullary cavity.

Epiphyseal Plate

A layer of cartilage located at each epiphysis of a long bone where longitudinal bone growth takes place.

Cancellous Bone

Spongy, less dense bone tissue located at the epiphyses of long bones, filled with red bone marrow that produces blood cells.

Synovial Joint

A fully movable joint enclosed by a joint capsule lined with a synovial membrane that secretes lubricating synovial fluid.

Meniscus

A specialized crescent-shaped cartilage pad found within certain synovial joints, such as the knee.

Osteoclasts

Cells that secrete acid and enzymes to dissolve and resorb existing bone tissue during remodeling.

Osteoblasts

Bone-building cells that produce a protein matrix on which calcium salts are deposited to form new bone.

Avascular Necrosis

The death of cells in the epiphysis of a long bone (often the femur) resulting from interrupted blood supply due to an injury, fracture, dislocation, or blood clot.

Osteosarcoma

A malignant bone tumor in which osteoblasts multiply uncontrollably; also known as osteogenic sarcoma.

Ewing Sarcoma

A type of cancerous bone tumor that occurs primarily in young males.

Colles Fracture

A fracture of the distal radius typically sustained by falling onto an outstretched hand.

Comminuted Fracture

A bone fracture in which the bone is crushed or splintered into several small pieces.

Compression Fracture

A fracture where vertebrae are compressed together, commonly due to a fall onto the buttocks or disease-related collapse.

Greenstick Fracture

An incomplete fracture in children where the bone breaks on only one side while the other bends, due to flexible cartilage.

Osteomalacia

Abnormal softening of the bones caused by a deficiency of vitamin D or inadequate sunlight exposure; in children, it causes rickets.

Osteomyelitis

Infection and inflammation of the bone and bone marrow caused by bacteria entering via open trauma, surgery, or crush injuries.

Osteoporosis

Abnormal thinning of bone tissue occurring when bone resorption exceeds new bone formation, leading to porous, demineralized bone.

Pectus Excavatum

A congenital deformity in which the sternum is bent inward, producing a distinct depression in the anterior chest.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Chronic inflammation of the vertebrae that results in fibrosis, progressive fusion, and restricted mobility of the spine.

Kyphosis

Abnormal, excessive posterior curvature of the thoracic spine; commonly called humpback or hunchback.

Lordosis

Abnormal anterior curvature of the lumbar spine; commonly called swayback.

Scoliosis

Abnormal, excessive lateral C-shaped or S-shaped curvature of the spine (dextroscoliosis curves right, levoscoliosis curves left).

Spondylolisthesis

A degenerative condition of the spine in which one vertebra slips anteriorly out of alignment due to disk degeneration, injury, or fracture.

Genu Valgum

A congenital deformity in which the knees rotate inward toward the midline and are abnormally close together; also known as knock-knee.

Genu Varum

A congenital deformity in which the knees rotate laterally away from each other and lower legs bend toward the midline; also known as bowleg.

Hallux Valgus

A deformity in which the great toe angles laterally toward the other toes, often resulting in a painful, swollen bunion at its base.

Talipes Equinovarus

A congenital deformity in which the foot is pulled downward and rotated medially toward the midline; also known as clubfoot.

Chondromalacia Patellae

Abnormal softening and breakdown of the cartilage on the underside of the patella caused by abnormal tracking from thigh muscles.

Gout

A metabolic disease characterized by high blood uric acid levels that crystallize into tophi within joints, provoking acute pain and gouty arthritis.

Hemarthrosis

The presence of blood inside a joint cavity, typically resulting from trauma, penetrating injury, or hemophilia.

Osteoarthritis

A chronic joint disease characterized by progressive loss of articular cartilage, crepitus, and osteophyte (bone spur) formation; also called degenerative joint disease (DJD).

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

A chronic autoimmune disease in which autoantibodies attack joint cartilage and connective tissue, causing symmetric swelling, pain, and deformity.

Bone Scintigraphy

A nuclear medicine procedure using intravenous technetium-$99\text{m}$ to produce a scintigram that detects areas of abnormal uptake ('hot spots') in bone.

Closed Reduction

A non-surgical procedure in which fractured bone fragments are manually manipulated into normal alignment prior to casting.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)

A noninvasive medical procedure that uses external sound waves to break up bone spurs and treat soft-tissue inflammation.

Goniometry

The clinical procedure of measuring the range of motion (ROM) and angles of a joint using a goniometer.

Orthosis

An orthopedic device such as a brace, splint, or collar designed to immobilize, straighten, or correct an orthopedic condition.

Prosthesis

An orthopedic device designed as an artificial substitute for an amputated limb or a diseased joint.

Arthrocentesis

The procedure of using a needle to puncture a joint capsule and withdraw accumulated fluid.

Arthrodesis

A surgical procedure performed to permanently fuse together the bones of an unstable or deteriorated joint.

Arthroscopy

A minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses an inserted arthroscope to visualize and examine the interior of a joint.

External Fixation

A fracture repair procedure using metal pins inserted through bone fragments and secured to an external metal frame to immobilize the bone.

Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF)

A surgical procedure requiring an incision to expose and align a fracture, followed by the insertion of internal screws, pins, or plates to hold fragments in place.